CA1185947A - Tape loading device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

TAPE LOADING DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC
RECORDING AND /OR REPRODUCING APPARATUS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a rotary head drum and a mounting for a tape cassette apart from the drum; a tape loading device is provided with a support ring which is rotatable around the drum and inclined in respect to the plane containing the longitudinal median of the tape in the mounted cassette, a plurality of rotary tape guides spaced apart along the support ring and extending perpendicularly to the latter for withdrawing tape from the cassette and wrapping a por-tion thereof about the drum in response to turning of the support ring, and a draw-out guide which is movable toward and away from one side of the support ring in synchronism with the turning of the latter, the draw-out guide, when moved away from the support ring, being inclined relative to the plane containing the longitudinal median of the tape in the cassette such that a return run of the tape extending from the draw out guide back to the cassette leads smoothly to the latter.

Description

5~

BACKG OUMD OF THE: IN~NTIOM

Field of the Invention .

The presen'c invention relates generally to a tape loading device for a magnetic recordin& and/or reproducin~ apparatus, such as, video tape recorder (VTn) or the like, and more particularly is directed to an improved ~ape loadin~ device of the ~o-called U-loading type for use in a cassette-type helical scan VTR.

Description of the Prior Art . . _ . _ _ As is well ~nown, a tape loading device for a casse~te-type helical scan VTR may comprise a support ring rotatable about the rotary head drum and carrying a plurality of tape guides spaced apart along the ring and being effective, upon rota~ion of the support ring, to withdraw magnetic ~ape from a cassette suitably mounted apart rom the drum and to wind or wrap the withdrawn tape about a portion, for example, approxîmately a 180~ extent, of the circumferential surface of the rotary head drum.
In order to achie~e helical disposition of the tape wrapped about the rotary head drum, the suppor~ ring of the tape loading device is r~tated in a plane which is inclined in respect to the ust~ally horizontal plane containing the longitudinal median of che tape within the mounted tape cassette. By reason of sucn inclination of the plane of rotation of ~he support ring, the magnetic tape initially drawn horizontally out of the cassetee bv the tape guides on the ring is ~radually lowered as it is helically wrapped about a por~ion of the circurnferen.ial surface of the rotary head drum. ~ its lowermost level, . ~859~7 ~he ~ape is diver~ed or escapes tan~entially from the surface of the drum for enga~ement with the capst~n adapted to lon~i~udinally drive the t~pe, and then ~he path o the tape is rever~ed for return of the ~ape to the cassette along a ~radually risin~ course which eventually reaches the level of the mounted cassette.
In ~he usual tape loading device of the above described type, the tape guides provided on the support ring are fixed to ~he la~ter at successively different prede~ermined an~les relative to the plane of rotation of the ring so that ~he tape withdrawn from ~he cassette and enga~ed by the plurality of tape guides on the support ring is sequentially twisted by the tape guides. Due to the sequential ~wistin~ of the tape in the course of its engagement by the plurality of tape ~uides fixed on the support ring at respective different angles relative to the latter, the sliding fric~ion be~ween the tape and the tape guides give rise to a relatively lar~e resistance to the movement of the tape. Such large resistance to move~ent of the tape results in irregular travel of the tape and frequently in dama~e or creasing of the latter.

OBJECTS AND SU~RY OF THE INvENTIoN

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention eo provide an improved tape lGading device for a cassette-type helical scan VTR which avoids the fore-going disadvantages of the prior art.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape loading device, as aforesaid, which permits the very smooth driving of the magnetic tape.

~3--~L~85~

Another objeet of the present inv~ntion is tc provide a ~ape l~ading device, ~s aforesaid, which minimi~es the sliding friction between ~he magnetic tape and the tape guides of the loading device by which the tape withdrawn from a casse~te is wrapped ~bout the rotary head drum, whereby to avoid irregul~r travel and damage to the tape due ~o excesSive sliding friction.
Still another object of the present invention is to provlde a tape loading device, as aforesaid, which is reliable in opera~ion SO as ~0 consistently achieve correct loading of the tape without damage thereto.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, in a Da~netiC recording and~or reproducing apparatus havin~
a cylindrical tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head adapted to move in a circular path substan-tially coinciding with the ou~er circumferential surface of the drum, and in which a wound supply of magnetic ta~e, such as, a tape cassette, is mounted apart from the drum; a tape loading device comprises a support member, preferably in the form of a ring, extendin~, around th~
guide drum and bein~ rotatable in a plane that is inclined in respect to the plane containing the longitudinal median of the tape in the wound supply thereof, first tape ~uidin~
means, preferably in the form of a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted on the support member or rin~, at spaced apart locations along the latter, extending perpendicularly in respect to the plane of rotation of the support member, such first tape ~,uidinR means bein~
response to rotation of the support member for withdrawin~
tape fro~ the wound supply thereof and ~rapping a portion thereof helically abou~ the outer cireumferential surface . ~

of the guide drum, and ~econd tape guiding me~ns opera~d in ~ynchronism with ~he rotatîon of the support ~e~ber or ring to move from a first position adjacent the wound supply of tape to a second position spaced from ~he lat~er and in which the second tape guidin~ means engages the tape withdrawn from the wound supply between the latter and the firs~ guiding means, with the second tape ~uiding means, în its second position, being inclined relative to the plane containing the longitudinal median of ~he tape in ~he wound supply such that a run of the tape extending between the second tape guiding means and the wound supply of tape is lead smoothly back to the latter.
In the foregoing arrangement according to an aspect of the invention, upon the completion of a tape loading operation, the rotary tape guide rollers mounted on the support ring and constituting the first tape ~uiding means all have their axes extending at right angles to the longitudinal median of the tape contacted thereby 50 that there is a minimum of resistance to move-ment of the tape imposed by such tape guide rollers.
Thus, only the second tape ~uiding means~ which is desirablv in the form of a draw-out guide located at one side of the support ring, extends at an angle wi~h respect LO the longitudinal median of the tape engap;ed thereby at the cornpletion of the tape loading opera~ion so as to impose any significant sliding frictional resistance ~o the movement of the tape.
The abo~e, and vther objects, features and advanta~es of the inven~ion, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illus~rative embodi-ment thereof which is to be read in connection wi~h the _5_ accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals are used ~o identify ~he same or corr2sponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF E DRAWINGS

~ ig. 1 is a scherna~ic plan view ~enerally showing the overall arrangement of a tape loading device for a cassette-~ype helical scan VTD~ according to an embodiment of the present invention;
~ ig. 2 is a schema~ic side elevational view of the arrangernent of Fig. 1 as vie~ed in the direction of ~he arrows 2-2 on Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the arrangement shown on Fig. 1, bu~ as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 on ~ig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a schematic eleva~ional view of the arrangement shown on ~ig. 1 as viewed from the rear thereof, th~t is, as viewed in the direction of ~he arro~s 4-4 OI Fig. l;
~ ig. 5 is a top plan view of a cassette~type helical scan vTr~ having a tape loading device aceording to the embodiment of the invention schematically illustrated on Figs. 1-4, and showing additional details and components thereof;
Figs. 6A and 6B are fragmentary, enlarged plan views showing a drive for the tap2 loadin~ device of Fig. 5 and a draw-out guide assernbly ~hereof in two different conditions of the latter;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a trans-mission included in ~he drive of Figs. 6A and 6B for dri~ing ~he draw-out guide assembly thereof;

~ 5~7 Fig. 8 is a sectional view showin~ a trans-mission included in ~he drive c: f ~igs . 6A ~nd 6B for driving the tape loading deYice;
~ ig. 9 is a sectional view of ano~her portion of the ~Lransmission included in the dr.ive illustra~ed on ~igs. 6A ~nd 6B;
Fig. 10 is a detailed el.evational view, partly broken away and in section, and par~cularly showin~ the mounting for a draw-out guide included in th~ assembly of Figs. 6A and 6B;
Fig. 11 is a detailed elevational view of the structure of Fig. 10 as viewed in ~he direction of the arrow 11-11 on ~ig. 10;
Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a number of the elements included in the draw-ou~ guide assembly of Figs. 6A and 6B;
Figs. 13A and 13B are enlarged fra~mentary plan views of a ~ension regulator mechanism included in the cassette-type helical scan VTR of Fig. 59 and which is shown in respective different conditions thereof;
Fig. 14 is a side elevational view, parLly broken away and in section, of ~he ~ension regulator mechanism of ~igs. 13A and 13B;
Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of elements included in the tension regulator mechanism of ~ig s . 1 3A an d 1 3B;
Figs. 16A and 16B are enlarged fragmentary plan views of a pinch roller press mechanism included in the cassette-type helical scan ~TR of Fig. 5, and which is shown in respeetive dif~eren~ conditions thereof;

8 ~

~ ig. 17 is a secti~nal view of the pinch roller press mechanism, as viewed alcng the line 17-17 on Fig. 16B;
Fig. 1~ is a detailed elevational view of the pinch roller press mechanism, as viewed in the direction of the arrows 18-18 on Fig. 16A;
~ ig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of elen2nts included in the pinch roller press mechanism of ~igs. 16A and 16B;
Fig. 20 is a schematic plan view to which reference will be made in explaining advantages of the pinch roller press mechanism of Fi~s. 16A, 16B, 17, 18 and 19; and Fig. 21 is ~n enlarged sectional view showin~
details of tape guide rollers and of the mounting of a support ring therefor in the tape loading device according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIOM OF A PREF~ RED EJrBOr~ lENT

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Fig. 1, it will be seen that a tape loadin~
device 31 of the U-loading type for a casse~te-~ype helical scan VTR is there shown to generally comprise a suppor~
ring 32 having tape guides thereon, as hereinafter described in detail, which are effective upon rotation of ring 32, to withdraw a magnetic tape 34 from a suitably mounted tape cassette 33t and ~o helically wrap the withdraw~ tape around the circ~mferential surface o a rotary head drum 35.
More particularly, the VT~ provided with tape loading device 31 is shown to include a base plate or chassis 37 having a plurallty of positioninp, or locatin~ pins 38 thereon (Fig. 3~ for horizontally positioning or mountin,e ~35~7 ., tape eassette 3.~. When t~pe cassette 33 is ~hus mourlted, a lid 39 pivoted at ~he front of the cassette housin~ is opened to expose a front opening 40 ~cross which a run of the magnetic tape 34 ~xtends, as indicated by the dot-dash line on ~ig. 1. Furthermore, when tape cassette 33 i5 mounted on positionin~ pins 38, a supply reel 41 and a take-up reel 42 on which the tape 34 is wound within the tape cassette are respectively engaged with a supply reel shaf~ 43 and a take-up reel shaft 44 which are rotatably arra~ged on chassis 37. Further, as shown on Fig. 1, tape cassette 33 includes a tape guard fence 45 of inver~ed L-shape .formed inte,~rall~ with the upper wall of the cassette housing and engagin~ in back of the run of tape 34 which extends across opening 40 when the tape cassette is not in use.
The rotary head drum 35 is disposed in a substantially laterally centered position in fron~ of the moun~ed tape casse~te 33, and support ring 32 extends around the outer circu~ference o f drum 35 and is eceentr-ically located in respect to the latter. Rotary head drum 35 and support ring 32 are mounted on a base 48 (~ig. 4) which is inclined relative to chassis 37. As sho~ on ~ig. 4, the central axis Pl of rotary head drum 35 is inclined from the vertical or reference line PO by an angle ~1 of 5 in the direc~ion of ~he arrow _ on Fig. 1. The central axis P2 of support ring 3~ normal to the plane of ro~ation of the latter is inclined from ~he vertical or reference line P~ by an an~ 2 of 13D also in ~hP direction indicated by the arrow a on Fig. 1. Therefore, the plane of rotation of the rotary head or heads (not shown~
included in rotary head dru~ 35 is inclined by an angle s~

of 5 with respect to a horizontal or reference plane L
of mounted tape cassette 33, a~d hence in respect to the plane containing ~he longitudinal median line of ~he tape wound on reels 41 an~ 42 within mounted cassette 33.
Support ring 32, on the other hand, is rotatable in a plane whieh is inclined by an angle of 10 in respect to the plane con~aining the longitudînal median of the tape in mounted cassette 33.
Four rotary guide rcllers 49a, 49b, 49c and 49d, constituting the tape guides for withdrawing and wrapping the tape during a loading operation, are mounted on support ring 32 at locations spaced apart along the latter and are rotatable about respective axes normal t~
support ring 32, so that each of such axes is inclined rom a normal or perpendicular to the horizoneal or reference plane L of tape cassette 33 by an an~,le of 10~.
A pinch roller 50 is also mounted on support rin~ 32 between ~uide rollers 49a and 49b, but relatively close to the first guide roller 49a, and pinch roller 50 is also supported so as to be rotatable about an axis normal to the plane of support rin~ 32. In the course of a loadin~ operation, the tape 34 withdrawn from casse~te 33 is also acted upon by a draw-o~t guide Pin 51 and a tension regulator element 52 generally disposed at opposite sides of drum 35. At thP completion o a tape loa~ing operation, draw-out guide pin 51 functions as a stationary tape guide in a forwardly displaced posi~ion indicated in full lines on ~ig. 1, and in which the lon~itudinal axis P3 of draw-out guide pin Sl is inclined ~y a predetermined angle ~3 (Fig. 3) from ~he vertical or reference line PO in the direction indica~ed by the arro~ b on Fig. 1. On the oeher s~

hand; tension regulator elemen~ 52 is mounted so RS to be perpendicular in respect to the horizontal or reference plane L of the mounted ~ape cassette 33 at all times.
Als~ mounted on chassis 37 are a capstan 53, a CTL head 54 ~or recording and reproducin~ control signals in a longitudinal track on tape 34 ~nd which also serves as an audio recording and reproducin~ head, an audio erase head 54, an exit guide 56 for leadin~ the tape 34 t~ngen-tially away from the surface of drum 35, an inlet guide 57 for leading the tape to the circumferential surface of drum 35 and a full-width erase head 58 ~Fig. 1). Capstan 53, CTL head 54, audio erase head 55 and exit guide 56 are all orien~ed parallel to guide rollers 49a 49d on support rin~ 32, and thus are each inclined, by an an~le of 10, from the perpendicular to the horizontal or re~erence plane L of the n~ounted tape casset~e. On thc other hand, inlet guide 57 and full-width erase head 58 are mounted perpendicular to the horizontal or reference plane L of the mounted tape cassette.
In the fully unloaded state of device 31, ~,uide rollers 49a - 49d and pinch roller 50 are in tlleir fully unloaded or inactive positions indicated by the dot-dash lines on Fig. 1. At such time, draw-out guide pin 51 and tension re~ulator element 52 are also in fully unloaded or rearwardly disposed inactive posi~ions indicated in dot-dash lines on Fig. 1, and there ~hown to be close to ~upport rin~, 32. When tape casse~te 33 is placed downwardly on positioning pins 38 so as ~o be thereby mounted or loaded in the VTR, wi~h its lid 39 opened, first and second guide rollers 49a and 49b and pinch roller 50 on 6upport ring 32, and also draw-out 5~47 guide pin 51 and tension re~ulator element 52 are inserted upwardly into opening 40 of ~he mounted cassette and are thereby posi~îoned in back of the run of the ~ape 34 extending laterally across cassette openin~ LO, as indicated in dot-dash lines on Fig. 1. When ~he molmting or loading of tape cassette 33 in the VTR is conventionally detected by a switch (not shown), support rin~ 32 is driven, as hereinafter described, in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow c on Fig. 1. Asa result, the tape 3~ in the run extendin~ across cassett2 opening 40 is caught or enga~ed by the first ~uide roller 49a, and, as the rotation of support ring 32 con~inues in the direction of the arrow c, the corresponding movement of guide roller 49a is effective to ~radually or pro~ressively draw the tape outwardly from the cassette and to wrap the wi~hdrawn tape 34 in the countercloc~wise direction, as viewed on Fig. 1, about the outer circumferential surface of rotary head dru~ 35. In synchronism with the rotation of support ring 32 in the direction of arrow c, draw-out guide pin 51 is moved, as hereinafter described in detail, in the direction indicated by the arrow d on Fig. 1. Draw-out guide pin 51 reaches its forwardly displaced or operative position indicated in solid lines on Fig. 1, and is thereafter fixed in such position, when first ~uide roller 49a attains an intermediate position indicated in broken lines on ~ig. 1. Further, in sYnchronism with the forward movement of draw-out guide pin 51, eension re~ulator element 52 is moved in ~he direction indicaeed by the arrow e on Fi~. 1, as hereinafter described in detail, and comes to a temporary halt in the pause position indicated in broken lines.

~ 12 3~7 By reason of the inclination of the pJane of ro~tion of support ring 32 at an angle of 10 from ~he horizontal, as ring 32 is turned in the direction of arrow c on Fi~. 1, the second, third and our~h guid~
rollers 49b, 49c and 49d successively follow first ~uide roller 49a and move from a lowermost level, when ~o thc left of drum 35 as ~iewed on ~i~. 1, to an uppermost position when disposed to the riy,ht of drum 35. Thus, guide rollers 49b, 49c and 49d, in following the first guide roller 49a, sequentially en~er the loop of tape 34 by passing under thc tape, when at the lowermosL level, and then rise within the ~ape loop and engage the tape in moving toward the uppermost level. After guide roller 49a, pinch roller 50 and guide rollers 49b - 49d, in sequence, past the portion of support ring 32 to the right of drum 35, and at which ~hey attain their highest level, the guide rollers 49a - 49d and pinch roller 50 are ~rad-ually lowered with continued turning of ring 32 in ~he direction of arrow c on Fig. 1. The loading operation is completed when support ring 32 is turned through approx-imately 270, whereupon, ~uide rollers 49a ^ 49d and pinch roller 50 reach the respective positions shown in solid lines on Fig. l. Immediaeely before the completion of the loading operation, tension regulator element 52 is fur~her moved in the direction of the arrow e on Fig. l from ~he pause or temporary position shown in bro~en lines to the final or operati~e position indicated in full lines on Fig. l. Completion of the loading operation is convention-ally detected by a switch (not shown), whereupo~ the driving of support ring 32 i9 halted and ring 32 is locked in its operative or loade~ posi~ion.

When the loading operation is completed, the pa~h of ~he magne~ic tape is tha~ indicated by the solid lines on Fig. 1, and as sllown on Fi~s. 2-4. In such path of tape 34, the tape is ~uided past full-wid~h erase head 58 and inlet guide 57 to the circumferentiRl surface 9f drum 35, and ~hen from drum 35 past exit guide 56, audio erase head 55 and CTL head 54 to between caps~an 53 nd pinch roller 50. Since the planes of rotation of the head or heads of drum 35 and of support rin~ 32 are at an an~le of 5 in respec~ to each other, tape 34 is helically wrapped abou~ the circumferential surface of drum 35 to an angular extent of 180 + ~ with a lead angle of 5.
~ en a recording or reproducing button (not shown) is depressed or actuated with devlce 31 in its fully loaded condition, pinch roller 50 is made to ress tape 34 against capstan 53 so that the tape is driven a~
the normal speed in the longitudinal direction indicated by the arrows f on Fig. 1, whereby to effect the desired recordin~, or reproducing operation of the VTR. Durin~ such recordin~ or r,eproducin~ operation, tape 34 is drawn hori-æon~ally from supply reel 41 in ~ape cassette 33, ~s shown on Fig. 2, and is ~uided ~o the circumferential surface of rotary head drum 35 by means of tension regulator element 52, full-width erase head 58 and inle~
guide 57. Then, tape 34 is ~uided obli~uely downward, at an angle oX 10~ in respect to the horizontal or reference plane L, alon~, the circumferential surface of drum 35, as shown on Figs. 3 ~nd 4, and is directed to gui~e roller 49a by way o exit guide 56, audio erase head 55, CTL head 54 and capstan 53. The path of ~ape 34 is reverted or turned through 180~ abou~ guide roller 49a and is guided obliguely upward ~t an angle of 10 relative to the hcrizontal by means of pinch roller 50 and puide rollers 4~b, 49c and 49d to draw-out guide pin 51. A~ draw-out guide pin 51, the returning tape 34 is restored substan-tially to the same le~el as tape cassette 33 (Fig. 3).
By means of the inclination of draw-out guide pin Sl in its operative position, tape 34 en~,aginr such pin is twîsted so as to be thereafter guided substantially horizontally into cassette 33 for take-up or rewinding on reel 42 therein.
It will be appreciated that, in the above generally described tape loading device 31 according to this invention, at the completion of a tape loadin~ oper-ation, the tape 34 i9 twisted only a~ its engap,ement with draw-out guide pin 51, and nowhere else. Accordingly, tape 34 withdrawn from cassette 33 is verv smoothly driven past tension re~ulator element 52, rotary head drum 35, capstan 53, rotary ~uide 49a, pinch roller 50 and guide roller 49b - 49d wi~hout bein~, twisted until tne ~ape comes into en~a~ement with draw-out guide pin 51. Since guide rollers 49a - 49d on support ring 32 for ~uiding tape 34 are ~11 freel~ rotatable, tape 34 is subJec~ed to only 8 minimal frictional resistance to its movement by en~a~ement with guide rollers 49a - 49d and, therefore, the smooth trAvel of the tape is promoted. Fur~her, since ~ape 34, when being g~ided by p,uide rollers 49a ~ ~9d on support ring 32, has the median line of ~he tape ex~endin~
at ri~ht angles ~o the axes of guide rollers 49a - 49d, which axes are all perpendicular to ~he plane o~ support ring 32, the tension in tape 34 does not cause inadvert~n~

~5~

movement of the tape axially alon~ ~he guide rollers so ~hat tape 34 is driven in an extremely stable ~anner.
When an eject button (not 511C)Wrl) iS actuated or depressed after compl4tion of a recordinp, or reproducing operation, support ring 32 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow c' on Fig. 1, and an unlsadin~
operation. The procedure for such unloading operation is the reverse of ~he procedure described above for a loading operation and, in ~he course thereo, tape 34 is unwrapped from the circumference of drum 35 and progressively returned to cassette 33 in which one or the other of reels 41 and 42 is rotated for taking up the slackened tape.
At the completion of the tape unloading operation, guide rollers 49a - 49d, pinch roller 50, draw-out guide element 51 and tension regulator element 52 are all returned ~o the positions indicated in dot-dash lines on Fig. lr with the tape restored to its strai~ht run extendin~ across cassette opening 40, as also shown in dot-dash linesi so that, if desired, tape cassette 33 may be removed upwardly from the ~rTR.
Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that, in the illustra~ed VTR havin~ a tape loading de~ice 31 accordin~, ~o an embodiment of this invention, there are further provided on chassis 37 at locations outside the periphery of support rin~ 32, a drive mechanism 61 for support ring 32 and draw-out guide pin 51, a tension regulator mechanism 62 including tension regulator element 52, and a pinch roller press mechanism S3 for pressing pinch roller 50 a~,ainst capstan 53 when it is desired to drive tape 34 in a recording or reproducing operation.

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5~3~7 A specific structural arrangement of drive mechanism 61 will now be described in detail with reference ~o Figs. 6A, 6B and 7-12. As shown particularly on Fig. 7, a r~versible electric motor 66 is mounted on chassis 37 and has a downwardly projectin~, motor ~hat 67 on which a drive pulley 6B is secured below chassis 37. An intermediate shaft 69 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing supported by chassis 37 and, at its lower end, shaft 69 has a pulley 70 secured ~here~o tobe driven by a belt 71 runnin~ around pulleys 68 and 70. As shown particularly on ~i~s. 6A, 6B and ~, a ring drive ~ear 73 is rotatably supported on an inclined shaft 74 which is fixedly mounted on chassis 37 adjaccnt the other periphery of support rin~s 32. A gear 75 is fixed to the upper end of intermediate shaft 69 and a gear ~rain, comprised of gear members 79, 80 and 81 rotatable on shafts 76, 77 and 78, res?ectively, secured to chassis 37, is provided for transmittin~ the rotation of gear 75 to p,ear 73. ~ore particularly, as shown on Fig. S, gear member 79 includes an upper gear 79a meshing with Kear 75 and an integ,ral lower &ear 79b meshing with a lower gear 80a of ~ear member 80 which further includes an inte~ral upper gear 80b.
Lower ~ember 80a also meshes with a lower ~ear 81a of gear ~ember 81 which further includes an integral upper ~ear ~lb meshing with drive ~ear 73. ~urther, a ring gear 82 is formed on the outer periphery of support rin~, 32 and is in meshing engagement with drive gear 73. Thus, ;n dependence upon the direction of rotation of reversible electrir motor 66, Cupport rin~ 32 is driven either in the forward direction indica~ed by arrow c for a tape loadin~
operation or in the reverse direction indicated by the ~5~7 arrow c' for a tape unloading opera~ion by means of the previously described transmission between motor shaft 67 and drive gear 73.
As shown on Figs. 6A, 7 and 9, a cam 83 inte-gral wi~h a cam gear ~4 is rotatably supported on a shaft 85 which is fixed to chassis 37 at a location such ~hat cam gear 84 meshes with upper gear 80b of gear member 80 so as to be driven by the latter and thereby provide the moLive force for draw-out guide pin 51. As shown partic-ularly in ~igs. 10-12, draw-out guide pin 51 is mounted on a rocl;able support member 87 which is suspended fro~l a swingable support lever 88. The swingable support lever 83 is generally of C-shaped configuration, as shown on Fi~s. 7 and 12, and includes a relatively short lower arm 88a, a relatively lon~, laterally curved upper arm ~b and a vertical connectin~ portion 8~c therebetween. Lower arm 88_ of lever 88 terminates in a boss wnich is ro~atable on a shaft 89 fixedly dependîn~, fro~ ~hassis 37 adjacent fixed shaft 85. An upwardly directed bracket 9~ is formed integrally with the free end portion of upper arm 88b and carries a horizontally directed shaf~ 91 in a bore 92 for pivotally supporting a rockable support 87. More par~icularly, rockable support 87 is shown to be of substantially inverted T-shaped confi~uration with draw-out guide pin 51 being fixed to and directed upwardly from vne end of a horizontal portion 87a at the bottom of support 87, Further, a s~em or upwardly directed portion 87b of inverted T-shaped ~upport 87 is fixed, at its upper end, to shaft 91 whîch is turnable in bore 9~ at the upper end of bracket 9~. Swingable lever ~8 is biased about shaf~ 89 in the directîon of the arrow ~ on Fig. 6A by ~5~7 means of a ~orsi~n spring 93 which extends arou~d the pivoted boss on lower arm 88a of lever 88 and which has its opposite ends suitably abut~ing a~ains~ lever 88 and an anohor or stop (not shown) on chassis 37. Rockable support 87 is biased to rocl: rel~tive to lever 8~ in the direc~ion of the arrow h on Fig. ll by means of a torsion sprin~ 94 which is concentric with pivot shaft 91 and has its opposite end portions abuttin~ a~ains~ bracket 90 and roc~able s~pport 87. The rocking of support 87 in the ~irection of arrow h ~y means of torsion spring 94 is limited by a stop or projec~ion 95 extendin~ integrally from the end of horizontal portion 87a remote from pin 51 and being engagable against a side surface of bracket 90.
In such lirnited position established by the en~,agement of stop 95 against the adjacent side surface of bracket 90, draw-out guide pin 51 is vertically oriented, as shown by the solid lines on Fi~. 11.
Cam 83 which is integrally formed above cam gear 84 has a substantially spiral configuration, as is particularly apparent on Fig. 12, and a cam follower pin 96 depends from upper arm 88b of lever 88 and is urged into engagement with spiral cam 84 by the force of spring 93 urging lever 88 in the direction of arrow ~ on Fig. 6A.
The spiral configur~tion of cam 83 is desi~ned so that, when cam ~3 is turned in the direction of the arrow 1 through approximately 90 from the position shown on Fi~,.
6A, cam follower pin 96 will have moved from a minimum radius portion of cam 83 to a maximum radius portion 83a of the cam which has approximately a 270~ extent. Thus, swinging movement of lever 8S rom the position shown on Fig. 6A to the position shown on Fi~. 6B is effectcd during -19- .

approximately l/4 of a revolution of caQ 83 from the position ~hown on ~i~. 6A and, during ~he remainder of the revolution of cam 83 ~o ~he position shown on Fig. 6B, cam follswer pin 96 continues to engage the maximum radius portion 83a of the cam and lever ~8 remains in the position ~hown in Fig. 6B.
As shown particularly on Figs. 6A, 9 and 12, an interlocking lever 98 is pivoted on a pivot pin 99 ~ixed ~o chassis 37 adjacent cam gear 84. Interlocking lever 98 is biased in the direction indica~ed by the arrow l on Fig. 6A, as hereinafter described in de~ail, so as ~o enKage the vertical connecting portion 88c of swingin~ lever 38.
A pin lOG is directed upwardly from one end of interlocking lever 98 and is engagable by a proj~ction 101 (Fi~s. 6A, 6B and 9) depending from the lower surface o ca~ gear 8L.
As shown on Figs. 6A, 6B and 7, a guide positioning plate 103 is fixedly mounted above chassis 37 and is positioned to be engaged b~r the upper end portion of draw-out guide pin 51 for inclining ~he latter upon move-ment of lever ~8 from the posi~ion shown on Fi~. 6A to the position shown on Fig. 6B. More particularly, if it is assumed that ~ape loading device 31 is initially in its ~ully unloaded condition, swinging lever 88 is then in the position shown on Fig. 6A and draw-ou~ guide pin 51 extends ~ertically due to the action of torsion spring 94 in engaging stop 9S with bracket 90. When motor 66 is operated in the forward direction for causing drive gear 73 to turn support ring 32 in the direc~ion ofthe arrow c on Fi~. 6A, and thereby effect a loading operation, as described above, cam gear 84 is simultaneously rotated in the direction of arrow i on Fig. 6A through the action of gear me~ber 80. As a resule of turning of cam ~ear ~4 5 9 ~'~

in the direction of arrow i. ~wingin~ lever 88 is turned in the direction of the arrow ~' on Fig. 6A against the force of torsion spring 93, and draw-out guide pin 51 is similarly moved in the direction of the arrow d on Fig. 1, that is, from the position shown on Fig. 6A toward the po~ition shown on Fi~. 6B.
I~hen turning of support ring 32 i.n the direction of the arrow c has proeressed to the extent that is effective to move guide roller 49a from the position indicated by dot-dash lines on Fip. l to the position indicated by broken lines, cam 83 will have been turned through approx-imately gO~ from the position sho~ on Fig. 6A so that lever 88 and draw-out guide pin 51 will have been moved to the positîon shown on Fig. 6B in response to ~he engage~ent of cam follower pin 96 with the maximum radius portion 83a of cam ~3. Durinp the remaining turning of rinR 32 in the direction of ~he arrow c for completing the tape loading operation and bringing guide roller 49a to its posi~ion indicated in full lines on Fig. 1, cam gear ~4 continues to be turned in ~he direction of the arrow i ~ the final position sho~ on Fig. 6B and, during such additional tllrnin~
of cam gear 84, cam follower pin 96 con~inues to ride on the extended maximum radius portion 83a of eam 83 for maintaining lever 88 in the position shown on Fig. 6~.
It will be apprecia~ed that, just before the final increment of swinging movement of lever 88 ~o ~he po~ition shown on Fig. 6B, the u~per end portion of draw-out guide pln Sl en~ages against an ed~e o.f guide positionin~
plate 103, for example, as shown in dot-dash lines on Fi~. 7.
Thereafter, durin~ the final increment of the swinginp~
movement of lever 88 to the position shown on Fig. 6B, the acti~n of ~uide positioning pla~e 103 again~t puide pin 51 causes tilting of the latter and of i~s rockable support 87 in the direction of tlle arrow h' on Fig. 11 against the force of torsion spring 94. Therefore, when lever 8g a~ains ~he position shown on Fig. 6B, draw-out guide pin 51 supported thereby i5 disposed in an inclined position to serve as an inclined fixed guide for the tape 34. It will be seen on Fig. 11 that the axis of pin 91 about whi~h support 87 is rockable, and hence ~he center of turning of draw-out guide pin 51 when the lat~er is inclined, coincides substantially with ~he longitudinal mediaD of the guided tape 34.
It will be apparent from the foregoing tha~
draw-out guide pin 51 is erec~ or ver~ical during its movement from the position shown on Fi~. 6A substantially to the position shown on Fig. 6B, during which ~ime the axis of guide pin 51 is substantially per?endicular to the longitudinal median of the ~ape 34 being engaged thereby.
It is only at the forwardly displaced position of draw-out guide pin 51 that ~he latter is in~lined, as indicated by the dot-dash lines on Fig. 11, ~o serve as a s~ationary inclined ~uide for the tape which is thereafter being made to follow a downwardly slopin path in response to the movement o~ guide roller 49a ~ith ring 32 beyond the position shown in broken lines ~n Fig. 1.
It is further to be noted ehat~ as swinging lever 88 is turoed in the direction o~ the arrow &' on Fig. 6A, its vertical connectin~ por~ion 88c acts ~g~inst interlocking lever 98 to turn the lat~er in the direc~ion indicated by the arrow i' on Fig. 6A. Such engage~ent of connecting portion 88c of lever 88 with interlDckin~ lever ~ 35~7 98 is effec~ive to move the latter to the position shown in dot-dash lines on Fi~. 6B when lever B8 attains ~he position shown on Fi&. 6B, ~ha~ is, as soon as rin~ 32 has turned in the direction of ~he arrow c to the extent sufficient ~o move first ~uide roller 49a to the posi~ion ~hown in broken lines on ~ig. 1. Thereater, durin~, the remainder of ~he tape loading operation, interlockinr, lever 98 remains in ~he position ~hown in dot dash lines on Fi~. 6B
until, during the final increment of turning of cam 83 in the direction of the arrow i on Fig. 6B, projec~ion or abutment 101 depending from cam ~ear B4 acts against pin 100 on lever 98 to further t~rn the latter in the direction of the arrow i' to the position sho~ in full lines on Fig. 6B. The fore~oing movements of interlocl~ing lever 98 are effected for causing ~he desired operation of tension regulator ~echanism 62, as hereinafter described in detail.
U~on the co~pletion of a ~ape loading operation, motor 66 may be rotated in the reverse direc~ion so as to turn support rin~ 32 in the direction sf the arrow c' on Fig. 6B, and to cause ~evice 31 to efect a tape unlGadinp operation, as earlier described. In the course of such tape unloading operation, draw-out guide pin 51, swinging lever 88 and interlockin~ lever 98 are restored to ~heir respective positions sho~ on Fig. 6A.
Referring now to ~igs. 13~.-15, it will be seen that tension regulator mechanism 62 comDrises a tension re~ulator arm 107 having an upstanding shaft 108 ~ig. 14) fixed to its free end for rot~tably supporting ten~ion regulator element 52 which is in the form of a roller.
A tension re~,ulator ~oun~inE pla~e 109 of ~,enerally C-shaped coniguration (Fi~. 14) i5 secured, at its lvwer portion, 11859a,L7 on chassis 37 at ~he left-hand side of support rin~ 32.
A shaft 111 is formed with conical tips at its opposite ends which are rota~ably received in pivot bearings 110 carried by the upper and lower portions of mountin~ plate lO9. The end of tension regula~or arm 107 rQmOte from shaft 108 is joined to a support sleeve 112 which extends over shaft lll and is secured ~o the latter by a set screw 113 (Figs. 14 and 15). A tension regul~or drive lever 114 is disposed above a brake drive lever 115, and both levers 114 and 115 are mounted on sleeve 112 below ~ension re~ulator arm 107 so as to be angularly displaceable relative to each o~her and rela~ive to arm 107. A pin 116 is formed integrally with brake drive l~ver llS and extends ~arallel to the axis of shaft lll above and below lever 115. The upper end portion of pin 116 ex~ends beyond tension regulator drive lever 114 and is en~ageable by a radial face of a nose 117 formed on tension regulator arm 107 (Fi~. 15). A nose 118 is formed on ~ension regulator drive lever 114 and has a radial face direc~ed oppositely to the radial face of nose 117 so that noses 117 and 11~ are en~ageable with pin 116 at opposie sides of the latter, as shown on Fig. 13A.
Sprin~ anchors or hool;s 120 and 121 are formed on arm 107 and brake drive lever 115, respectively, and a tension regulator return spring 122 is connected, at its opposite ends, to anchors 120 and 121 for urging arm ~07 to turn relative to lever 115 in the direction maintaining nose 117 against pin 116. An arm 123 formed with spaced apart noeches extends integrally from tension re~ulator drive lever 114 ~o form a spring anchor, and bra~;e drive lever 115 is formed with a hole or cutout 154 forming another sprin~, anchor, so that a tension re~ulator spring 125 having a bissing force stronger than that of spring 122, ean be connected, at its opposite ends, ~o anchors 123 and 124 for urging levers 114 and 115 to turn relative to each other in the direction urging nose 118 a~ainst pin 116. By reason of springs 122 and 125 urging noses 117 and 11~ apainst pin 116 from the opposite sides of the latter, arm 107 and levers 114 and 115 tend to turn, as a unitary assembly, about shaft 111. Further, such unitary assembly is urged to turn in the direction indica~ed by arrow k on Fig. 13A by means of a torsion spring 12~ which extends around a lower portion of sleeve 112 and has its opposite ends engaged against pin 116 and mountin~ plate 109, respectively.
In order to operate tension regulator mechanism 62 in synchronism with drive mechanism 61, a connecting rod 128 (shown in broken lines on Fig. 5) extends laterally across chassis 37 and, at its opposite ends, is formed with hool;-shaped portions 128a (Fig. 6~) and 128b (Fig. 13A) which engage, with some play, pins 129 and 130, respectively, depending rom interlocking lever 9~ and tension regulator drive lever 114, respectively. A brake band 131 is wound or wrapped about approximately a 180 angular extent of the outer circumference of supply reel shaft 43 (Figs. 13A
and 13B~, wi~h one end of brake band 131 being anchored ~o chassis 37 by suitable means (n~t shown), while the other end of brake band 131 is connec~ed with brake drive lever 115 by a pin 132 formed integral with the latter.
The above described tension regulator mechanism 62 opera~es as fvllows:

In the fully unloaded condition of ~ape loadin~
device 31, draw-ouL guide 51 and lever 88 supporting the sa~e are in their inactive positions shown on Fig. 6A, as earlier described, and spring 126 is operative to ur~e arm 107 and levers 114 and 115, as a unit, in the direction of the arrow k on Fig. 13A to the positions there shown with tension regulator element 52 being therebv disposed in back of tape 34 in the run thereof extendin~ across opening 40 a~ the front of the mounEed c~ssette 33, as shown on Fig. 1. In response to such urging of ~.ension regulator element 52 to its inactive position by spring 126, connec~ing rod 12~ is pulled ~oward the left, as viewed on Figs. 6, 6A and 13A, with ~he result that interlocking lever 98 is urged in the direction of the arrow i on Fig. 6A for engagement with vertical connection portion 88c of lever 38, as earl ier noted.
When lever 88 is turned in the direction of arrow g' on Fig . 6A by the action of ca~ 83 on c~m follower pin 96 in the course o a tape loadîng operation, inter-locking lever 98 is turned in the direction of the arrow i' on Fi~ . 6A, for example, ~o the position indicated in dot-dash lines on Fig. 6B, b~ the action of connection portion 88c of lever 8,~ on in~erlocking lever 98. Asa result of such ~urning of in~erlockin~ lever 98, connecting rod 12S is pulled in the direction of the arrow 1 on Figs. 6B and 13A, and such pull causes tension regula~or drive lever 114, brake drive lever 115 and tension regulator arm 107 to be turned, as a unit, in the direction of ~he arrow k' on Fig. 13A aRainst the force of spring 126.
Therefore, in response to the turning of interlocking lever 9~ to the position shown in dot-dash lines on Fig. 6B

during ~he initial portion of ~ tape loading operation, tension regulator arm 107 and ~ension regulator element 52 are moved to ~he opera~in~ posi~ions sho~ in dot-dash lines on Fig. 13B. Thereafter, when interlockin~ lever 98 is further turned to the position shown in full lines on Fig. 6B by the en~a~ement of projection 101 on cam ~ear 8 wi~h pin 100 immediately before the completion of a tape loading operation, tension regulator arm 107 and ~ension re~ulator element 52 ~hereon are further urg~d to their final positions shown in full lines on Fip,. 13B.
It will be apparent that, in effectin~ the above movements of tension regulator arm 107 and elemen~
52 in response to the turning of in~erlocking lever 98, it is tension regulator drive lever 114 which is positively driven in the direction of the arro~7 ' by the movement of connecting rod 128 in the direction of the arrow ~.
The turning of lever 114 in the direction of arrow ~' is transmitted to brake drive lever 115 through spring 125, and arm 107 is, in turn, urged to follow the turnin~ of lever 115 by means of spring 122. Further, a pin 133 is forTned integrally with brake drive lever 115 at the end of the latter remote from pin 160 and extends upwardly from lever 115 so as to be engagable with arm 107. Thus, pin 133 limits the turnin~ of arm 107 rela~ive to lever 115 in the direction of the arrow k on Figs. 13A and 13B.
Accordingly, spring 122, which as earlier noted exerts a rela~ively light spring force, ~ends to maintain arm ~07 in an angular position relative to lever 115 ~n which nose 117 en~ages pin 116. However, if the resistance to movemen~ of arm 107 from the position of Fi~. 13A to either of ~he positions shown on Fig. 13B exceeds ~he force exerted s~

by spring 122, for example, by reason of tension in the tape engaged by element 52, th~n lever 115 i8 displaced in the direction of the arrow k' relative to a~m 107 until pin 133 engages arm 107 to con~i~ue the movement of arm 107 and regulator element 52 to their forward operative posi~ions.
The turning of brake drive lever 115 with lever 114 in the direction of the arrow k' in ~he course of a tape loading opera~ion of device 31 is efective to exert a pull on brake band 131 in the direc~ion of the arrow m on ~ig. 13B so that brake band 131 is pressed against the circumferential surfaee of supply reel shaft 43 with a force determined by the stren~th of sprin~ 125.
During a recording or reproducing operation of the VTR, the tension in tape 34 engagin~, tension regulator element or roller 52 urges arm 107 to ~urn in the direction of the arrow k on ~ig. 13B against ~he force of spring 122 and into engagement with pin 133. If the tension in tape 34 exceeds a predetermined value established by spring 125 and being adjus~able by displacement of spring 125 from one to another of the notches in its anchoring ar.~. 123 on lever 114, arm 107, and with it lever 115, are turned in ~he direction of arrow k against the force o~ spring 125, or example, to the position shown in dot-das~ lines on Fig. 13B. Such angular movement of lever 115 in the direction of the arrow k eases the pull on brake band 131 and thereby reduces the resistance ~o unwinding of the tape from the supply reel for reducing the ~ape tension.
Thus, in response to changes in the tape tensiDn during recordin or reproducing operations ~f the VTR, ~ension regulator elemen~ 52 an~ arm 107 are moved in the direction ~28-~5~

of the arrow k or the arrow k' on Fig. 13B for suitably varying the braking orce a~tin~ on supply reel shaft 43 and ~hereby maintainin~ a predetermined tension on the tape 34.
When a tape unloading operation of device 31 is effec~ed and, in the course thereof, swin~ing suppor~
lever 88 and interlocking lever 98 are restored to their respec~ive positions shown on Fig. 6A, as described pre-viously, the resul~ing movement of connecting rod 128 toward the left, as viewed on Fig. 5, is effecti~e to r~store tension regulator ele~en~ 52 and arm 107 to their inac~ive posi~ions shown in ~ig. 13A.
Referring now to Figs. 16A, 16B and 17, it will be seen tha~ a pinch roller suppor~ lever 137 is swingably supported adjacent one end on a shaft 136 which projects upwardly from support ring 32 perpendicular to the latter. A shaft 138 also extending perpendicular to the plane of support rin~ 32 is fixed, ~ its lower end portion, in lever 137 adjacent the end of the latter remote from shaft 136. Pinch roller 50 is rotatably supported on shaft 138 by ~eans of ~ bearing 139 (Fig. 17) which extends around an intermediate or central portion of shaft 138. A bearing plate or shoe 140 of substantially semi-circular shape is secured on ~he upper end portion of support shaft 138 so that bearin% shoe 140, and a corresponding portion of support lever 137 provide surfaces at which forces can be exerted for urging pinch roller 50 therebetween ag~inst eapstan 53, as hereinafter described în detail. A torsion spring 141 extends around shaft 136 and bears, at its opposite ends, a~ains~ pinch roller ~upport lever 137 and a pin 142 on support rin~ 32 for -2g-S~3~7 urging lever 137 to ~wing in the direction of the arrow n to the position shown on Fig. 16A, and in which lever 137 bears ~gainst pin 142.
Capstan 53 is ~hown to extend upwardly within a recess 144 form2d in inclined base 48. C~ps~an 53 is ro~atably ~upported in a pair of vertically spaced apart oil-less metal bearings 147 which are mounted within a bearing block 146 secured both to inclined base 48 and to an auxiliary base plate 145 positioned therebelow (~ig. 17). At the compl tion of a ~ape loading operation of device 31, support lever 137 with pinch roller 50 thereon is at the lowermost position of inclined support ring 32, that is, at the left-hand side of rin~ 32 on Fig. 1, and closely adjacent the position of CaPStan 53 so that the overall hei~ht of tape loading device 31 and of the VTR incorporating the sa~e may be reduced.
As sho~ on Fig. 19, pinch roller press mechanism 63 generally comprises a solenoid 149, 8 pinch roller pressing member 150, an intermediate member 151, a shaft 152 on which pressing member 150 and intermediate member 151 are both pivo~ally mounted, a sprinp, 153 connecting members 150 and 151, 2S hereinafter described in detail, for determining the force with which mecllanism 6~ is effective to press pinch roller 50 a~ainst caps~an 53, and a return spring 154 by which mechanism 63 is restored to its inactive condi~ion.
As shown particularly on ~igs. 16A and 17, solenoid 149 is mounted through a bracket 156 on chassis 37 near the position of pinch roller 50 at the completion of a tape loadin~ operation. Shaft 152 extends upwardly from mounting bracket 156 and is further ~ecured in position -3~-5~'7 by a supp~rt or mounting plate 157 fixed on top of solenoid 149.
Pinch roller pressing member 150 is constituted by upper and lower levers 150a and 150b and a connecting portion l5Dc extending between one end portions of levers 150a and 105b. Levers 150a and 150b are formed with centrally located hol~s 158 receiving shaft 152 or pivot-ally mounting pressing member 150 on the latter.
Intermediate member lSl is constituted by upper and lower ar~s 151a and 151b with a connecting portion 151c extending between ends thereof, and arms 151a and 151b are formed ~ith holes 159 adjacent the ellds thereof remote from connecting portion 151a for also receivin~
shaft 152 when intermediate member 152 is mounted on shaft 152 between the upper and lower levers lSOa and 150b of pressing member 150. Mounting brac~et 156 is disposed so that, at the completion of a tape loadin~
operation of device 31, edges of the upper and lower levers 150a and 150b, at the end portions thereof remote from connecting por~ion 150c, will be disposed in opposin~
relation to the ed~e surface of shoe 140 and the corresponding edge surface of pinch roller support lever 137, respectivelv, as shown on Fi~. 17. Sprin~ 153 is shown ~o be connected, at its opDosite ends, to a projection or spring anchor 160 extending from the connecting portion 150c of Pressing member 150, and to a sprin~ anchor 161 which extends integrally from the upper arm 151a of intcrmediate member 151. ~urther, the connectin~ portion 151c ~f intermediate member 151 has an abutment 162 proiectin~
therefrom for engagement against ~he projection 160 of pressing member 150 under ~he urging of sprin~ 153~ As further shown, an extension 163 proJects from upper arm 151a of intermedia~e member 151 and enga~,es in an annular gro~ve 165 formed in the free end portion of an armature 164 of solenoid 149. Solenoid 149 is of the type which retracts its armature 164 upon ~he electrical energizing of the solenoid, and return spring 154 is connected between a spring anchor 166 formed at the free end of ex~ension 1~3 and an anchor 167 provided on mounting bracket 156 for rocl~ing intermedia~e member 151 in the direction which extends armature 164 from solenoid 149 upon deenergizing of the latter.
Pinch roller press mechanism 63 operates as follows:
Solenoid 149 is deenergized, return sprin~
154 urges intermediate member 151 to pivot about shaf~
152 in the direction of the arrow o on Fi~. 16A, so that extension 163 causes armature 164 to move axially to its extended position. Further, spring 153 urges press member 150 relative to intermedia~e member 151 for ener-gizin~, abutment 162 against projection 160, and thereby establishin~ the inactive position of pressing member 150.
With pressing member 150 in such inactive position, upon the completion of a tape loading operation of device 31, pinch roller 50 co~es to rest alongside pressing member 150, as shown on Fi~. 16A. Thereafter, actuation of ~he recording or reproducing push-button of the VTR for initiating a recording or reproducing operation causes energi~ing of solenoid 149, whereby armature 164 is retracted or displaced in the direction of the arrow ~
on Fig. 16B. As a result of such retraction o armature 164 and tl~e engagemen~ of extension 163 in groove 165, intermediate member 151 is turned in the direction of the arrow o ' on ~ig . 16B against the force of return sprin~, 154. Further, the turning of intermediate member 151 in the direction of the arrow o' is ~ransmitted to pressing member 150 through spring 153 with the result ~hat side edge surfaces of levers 150a and 150b o member 150 are made to bear, in the direction o the arrow q on Fig. 16B, against ~he opposing surfaces of shoe 140 and pinch roller support lever 137, respectively. Thus, ~inch roller support lever 137 is angularly displaced in the direction of che arrow n on Fig. 16B against the force of spring 141 so as to press pinch roller 50 against capstan 53 with the tape 34 therebetween.
As is shown on Fig. 16B, the an~ular displacement of intermediate member 151 resultin~ from retraction of arma~ure 164 upon energizing of solenoid 149 is larger than the ~ngular displacement of press member 150 required to urge pinch roller 50 a~ainst capstan 53. Thus, in the energized condition of solenoid 149, abutment 162 on intermediate member 151 is moved away from prGjection 1~0 on pressing member 150, thereby ensuring ~hat spring 153 connected between members 150 and 151 will reliably determine the force with which mechanism 63 is operative to urge pinch roller 50 against capstan 53.
When solenoid 149 is again deenergized, for example, at the conclusion of a recordin~ or reproducing operation, return spring 154 restores armature or plun~er 164 to its extended position and returns intermediate member 151 and pressing member 150 to their inactive positions shown on Fig. l~A. Upon ~he return of pressin~
member 150 to i~s inactive position, spring 141 can ~8~

angularly displace pinch roller support lever 137 in the direction of the arrow n on Fi~. 16A for Rgain separatin~
pinch roller 50 from capstan 53.
It will be appreciated ~hat, in the inoperative condition of pinch roller press mechanism 63, sprin~ 153 acts strongly to ur~e pressin~ member 150 to the position relative to intermediate member 151 in which abutment 162 en~ages projection 160. In the illustrated pinch roller press mechanism 63, ~he location at which abutment 162 engages with projection 160 is shown ~o coincide with the line of force of spring 163 indicated by the arrow x on Fig. 16A. Thus, the spring force and any ~orque therefrom are cancelled by the reaction to the spring force at the point of con~act of abutment 162 with projection 160.
In contras~ to the foregoing, and as shown schematically on Fig. 20, if the abutment 162 on inter-medi~te member 151 en~,aged ~rojection 160 at a distance from shaft 152 that differs from the distance of the line of force x of sprin~, 153 from shaft 152, the force of spring 153 tends to rotate members 150 and lSl relative to each other about a fulcrum corresponding to ~he point of engagement of abutmen~ 162 with projection 160. More particularly, the forces of sprin~ 153 on members 150 and 151, represented by ehe arrow r and r' on Fig. 20 tend to turn members 150 and 151 in the direction indieated bv the arrows s and s', respectively, about the fulcrum define~ by the enga~ement of abutment 162 with projection 160. Thus, members lS0 and 151 stron~ly pull shaft 152 in opposed direc~ions, as indica~ed by the arrows s and s', and, as a result thereof, pinch roller pressing member lS0 and intermediate member 151 exert strong frictional -3~-5~ ~

forces on shaft 152. Such stron~ fricti~nal forces would make it ne~essary to provide a solenoid 149 of large size or capaci~y which9 of course, is undesirable. If the need for a large solenoid is avoided by providing a sleeve or bushing 169 around shaft 152 and then mounting pressing member 150 and intermediate member 151 on shaft 152 by way of the bushing 159, so that the .~rictional resistance to turning of members 150 and 151 rela~ive to shat 152 may be reduced, the effect thereof is to reauire an increase in the distance between the axis of shaft 152 and the axis of pinch roller 50 at least by ~he radial thickness of bushing 169.
However, with the pinch roller press mechanism 63 embodying ~he present invention, and as described above with reference to Fi~s. 16A - 19, the arrangement of the point of contact of abutment 162 with projection 160 to coincide with the line of force x of spring 153 ensures that, in the inoperative condition of mechanis~ 63, spring 153 does not ~ive rise to any twisting forces or torque that may act on shaft 152. Thus, pressing member lS0 and intermediate member 1;1 are smoothly rotatably about shaft 152 without the provision of the sleeve or bushing 169 thereon, and the effective diameter of shaft 152 can be made very small to permit such shaft to be arranged relatively close to the center of pinch roller 50, as shown on Fi~. 16A. By reason of the relatively s~all dis~ance distance between the center of shaft 152 and the eenter of pinch roller 50 made possible with the press mechanism 63 accordin~ to this invention, it is further possible to reduce the distance ~1 that solenoid 149 is located outwar~ly in respect to pinch rDller 50 and still obtain a sufficiently lar~e value for ~he ratio ~/Q3, in which Q2 is the distance from the axis of shaft 152 to the point of contact of extension 163 with armature 164, and Q3 is ~he distance from the axis 9~ shaft 152 to the points where the edge surfaces of levers 150a and 150b of pressing member 150 act against opposing edp,e ~urfaces of shoe 140 and pinch roller support lever 137. Since the present invention permits the ratio ~2/~3 to be made relatively lar~e while minimizin~ the distance Ql~ it becomes possible to use a solenoid 14~ of relati~ely small capacity for achieving 3 sufficient pressure of pinch roller 50 against caps~an 53. Thus, the overall width of the tape loadin~ apparatus 31 can be reduced for per-mitting the VTR to be made rela~ively compact. Since the shaft 152 of small diameter is supported at its opposite ends in bracket 156 and mountin~ plate 157, the pivotal mounting of members 150 and 151 is very stable, with the result that the pressing of pinch roller 50 a~ainst cap-stan 53 is reliably and uniformly efected.
Re~errin~ now to Fig. 21, it will be seen that each of guide rollers 49a - 49d preferably includes a cylindrical roller b~dy 171 rotatable on a shaf~ 173 which iq fixed, at its lower end portionl in a Mounting boss 172 secured to support ring 32. The cylindrical roller body 171 is sho~ ~o be formed with an inte~ral flan~e 174 at its lower end9 and an upper flan~e member 175 is formed integrally wi~h a collar which is pressed into an axially opening recess 176 at the ~-pper end portion of roller body 171. A washer 177 is interposed axially bet~een the rotary roller body 171 ~nd mountin~ boss 172, and a stopper 178 is suitably ixed on the upper end portion of shaf~ 173 for retaining roller body 171 thereon.
As shown particularly on Fig. 5, ~upport rin~
32 of ~ape loading device 31 is rotatably supDorted by means of ~hree ring guides l~Oa, l~Ob and l~Oc mounted on inclined base 48 at substan~ially equally spaced apart locations along a circle for en~a~.ing and supporting ring 32 at ~he inner periphery of the latter. Two of the guides supportin~ ring 32, that is, the guides 180a and l~Ob, ~ay be directly mounted on inclined base 48, while the third guide l~Oc is ~ounted on base 48 by way of an adjustable mounting plate 1~1 which suitably permits adjustment of the position of the respective ~uide 180c in the radial directisn of ring 32. Thus, ring 32 can be mounted for smooth rota~ion with substantially no play between ring 32 and guides 180_ - 180c.
As shown on Fig. 21 in respect to guide 18Qa, each of guîdes 180a 1$0c preferably includes a metal core ~achined with hi~h precision on a lathe and includin~, considered upwardly from the lower end, an end portion or stud 182a adapted to be pressed into base 4~ in ~he case of guides l~Ob and l~Oc, or into mountin~ plate 1~1 in the case of guide 180a, a flan~e 182b directed radially outward above stud 182a, a reduced diameter roller holder portion 182c above flan~e 182b, and a still further reduced diameter upper end portion 182d. The axial thickness or dimension tl of roller holder porti~n 182c of the metal core is made ~reater~ by several micronsl than the thickness t2 of support rin~ 32 which is prefer-ably formed of sheet metal. A plastic roller or rin~ 183 of the samc thickness t2 as support ring 32 is rotatable around roller holder 1~2c and has a smaller outer diameter ~859~7 than that of flan~e 182b. A stop membcr 184 in the form of a disc wi~h a central ~ore ~nd an outer diameter similar to tha~ of 1ange 182b is pressed onto ~he upper end portion 182d of the core so as to bear against an annular shoulder or step 18S which is defined between roller holder 182c and upper end portion 1~2d. It will be apparent that an annular gap 186 defined between flan~e 18~b and stop member 184 is greater, by several microns, than ~he thickness of plastic roller 183 which is equal to ~he thickness t2 of support ring 32. The inner periphery of ring 32 is inserted in such gap 186 so as to be guided by the ro~a~able plastic roller 183.
It will be appreciated ~hat the above described structure of ring guides 180a - 180c ensures ~hat support ring 32 can be very smoothly rotated about its center without any substantial play in the vertical directions.
This is to be distinguished from the conventional arran~e-ment in which a support ring similar to ring 32 is supported for rotation by means of molded plastic rollers having upper and lower flanges as integral parts thereof, with the i.nner periphery of support ring being guided between such flanges on the rollers. However, when guide rollers of plastic materia~ having upper and lower flanges as integral molded parts thereof are emploved, a relatively lar~e molding error is unavoidable and the gap between the flanges cannot be made substantially equal to ~he thickness of the supported rin~. By reason of the foregoin~ the mounted support ring of the conven~ional tape loading device is subject to substantial play in the vertical directivn with the result th~t the travel of the magnetic tape is adversely affected. However, -3~-5~

when the guides 189a, 180b and 180c have the construction d~scrihed above with reference to ~ig. 21, vertical play of the rotatably mounted support ring 32 is substantially eliminated and the smoo~h rotAtion ~f ring 32 is achieved.
~ urther, as shown on Figs. 5, 13B, 16A and 16B, tape loading device 31 according to this in~ention is preferably provided with 8 tape reception ~uide lg2 of plastic material fixed on the upper surface of support ring 32 in advance of guide roller 49a. Such tape reception guide 192 is provided to receive and smoo~hly support tape 34 if the latter is slackened and slips off guide roller 49a. By reason of tape reception guide 192, contact of tape 34 with rin~ gear 82, and consequent da~ge to the tape, is prevented even when the ~ape becomes slack.
Fur~hermore, as s'nown on Fig. 5, a pinch roller guide 193 is preferably mounted along the ou~er circum-ference of support rin~ 32 and ex~ends substantiall~ from th~ center of chassis 37 at the front of ring 32 to adjacent the location of interlocking lever 98 so as to be in front of the ~ape cassette 33 mounted on chassis 37 Such pinch roller guide 193 is disposed so that, when pinch roller 50 passes through front opening 40 of a cassette 33 during a tape loading or unloadin~ operation of device 31, pinch roller support lever 137 (Figs. 16A
and 16B) engages pinch roller guide 193 and is pressed inwardly thereby, that is, in the direction o the arrow n' on Fig. 16B against ~he force of spring 141 for ensuring that pinch roller 50 will not stri~e the edge 144 at the front opening o~ casse~te 33. ~y reason of pinch roller guide 193, the mounted tape cassette 33 . -39-~ 5~7 e~n be disposed very close to ~upport ring 32 of tape loading device 31.
Although ~he tape loading device 31 embodying this invention has been described as bein~ incorporated in a video ~ape recorder or VTR, it is to ~e understood that the inven~ion may be similarly advantageou~ly applied to other apparatus, and particularly to apparatus in which an informatisn si~nal, such as, a digi~al or other audio signal, is recorded and/or reproduced on a magnetic tape.
By way of summary, it is to be noted that, in accordance with an impor~ant feature of the invention as embodied in ~he above-described tape loading device 31, draw-out guide pin 51 is mounted so as to be ~ub-stantially vertically disposed during movemen~ be~ween its inacti~e position and its operative or forwardly displaced position in a predetermined timed relation to turning of support ring 32. Thus, draw-out guide pin .51 extends substantially at ri~ht an~les to the longitud-inal median of ~he tape 34 during the ~ovement of pin 51 which contributes to the withdrawal of the tape from cassette 33 so that the ~ape may be thereby smoothly drawn out without damage to the tape by pin 51. Further, upon attaining i~s operative or forwardly displaced position, dra~-out guide pin 51 is inclined by its en~agement with guide positioning plate 103 so as to provide the necessary ~urning of tape 34 from the portion of its path defined by guide rollers 49a ~ 49d ex~ending perpendicular to the inclined plane of support ring 32, to the portion of the tape path ex~ending from draw-out ~uide pin 51 back ~o the horizont211y mounted casse~te 33.

~ 35~

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been descrlbed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understoGd that ~he invention is not limi~ed to that precise embodiment and that various chan~es and modifi~
cations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departin~ from the ~cope or spirit of the invention as defined in ~he appended claims.

Claims (20)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cylindrical tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head adapted to move in a circular path substantially coinciding with the outer circumferential surface of said drum, a tape cassette in which magnetic tape is wound, and means for holding said tape cassette apart from said drum with the longitudinal median of the tape lying in a first plane; a tape loading device comprising:
a support member extending around said guide drum and being rotatable in a second plane that is inclined with respect to said first plane;
first tape guiding means mounted on said support member to extend perpendicularly in respect to said second plane in which the support member is rotatable and being responsive to rotation of said support member for withdrawing tape from said tape cassette and wrapping a portion thereof about said outer circumferential surface of the tape guide drum; and second tape guiding means movable, in pre-determined timed relation to said rotation of the support member, from a first position adjacent tape cassette supply of tape to a second position spaced from the latter and in which said second tape guiding means engages a run of the tape withdrawn from said tape cassette between the latter and said first guiding means, said second tape guiding means in said second position thereof being in an inclined condition relative to a perpendicular to said first plane such that such run of the tape engaged by said second tape guiding means is deflected by the latter to have the longitudinal median of the tape near said wound supply substantially parallel to said first plane.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said support member includes a circular ring member rotatable about its center which is eccentrically located in respect to the axis of said cylindrical tape guide drum.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2; in which said first tape guiding means includes a plurality of elongated guide rollers rotatably mounted on said ring member at locations spaced apart along the latter and each having its longitudinal axis of rotation perpendicular to said second plane which contains said ring member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said second tape guiding means is in an erect condition substantially perpendicular to said first plane when at said first position thereof and also during a major portion of its movement from said first position to said second position; and further comprising means acting on said second tape guiding means at said second position thereof for displacing said second tape guiding means to said inclined condition.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4; in which said second tape guiding means includes a second support member movable in said predetermimed timed relation to the rotation of the first mentioned support member, an elongated tape guiding element, means mounting said tape guiding element on said second support member for rocking relative to the latter between said erect and inclined conditions, and means urging said tape guiding element to said erect condition.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5; in which said means mounting the tape guiding element on said second support member has a rocking axis which substantially intersects the longitudinal median of the tape at the engagement of the latter with said tape guiding element.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6; in which said means mounting the tape guiding element for rocking relative to said second support member is secured to said tape guiding element at a lower end of the latter, and said means acting on the second tape guiding means at said second position engages the upper end portion of said elongated tape guiding element for rocking the latter about said rocking axis and stably disposing said tape guiding element in said inclined condition.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5; in which the first mentioned support member includes a cir-cular ring member and means mounting said ring member for rotation about its center between a first position corresponding to a completely unloaded condition of said tape loading device and a second position corresponding to a fully loaded condition of said device; and further comprising drive means for said ring member and said second support member for moving the latter from said first position to said second position of said second tape guiding means during an initial portion of the rotation of said ring member from said first position to said second position of said ring member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8; in which said drive means includes a motor, gear means for rotatably driving said ring member from said motor,cam means also rotatably driven by said gear means, and a cam follower on said second support member engaging said cam means for moving said second support member in response to rotation of said cam means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9; in which said cam means has a configuration to move said second support member from said first position to said second position thereof upon turning of said cam means through only a portion of a revolution and to maintain said second support member in said second position thereof for the remainder of said revolution.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8; in which said means mounting the ring member for rotation includes at least three spaced apart rotary guides equidistant from said center of the ring member and each including a stationary metal core having a reduced diameter portion between two spaced apart flanges and a plastic ring rotatable on said reduced diameter portion and having an outer diameter smaller than that of each of said flanges, said plastic ring having a thickness equal to that of said ring member and the distance between said flanges being slightly larger than said thickness so that a peripheral edge portion of said ring member can fit between said flanges to ride on said plastic ring.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8; in which said first tape guiding means including a plurality of elongated guide rollers rotatably mounted on said ring member at locations spaced apart along the latter and each having its longitudinal axis of rotation perpen-dicular to said second plane in which said ring member is rotatable.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said support member includes a circular ring member rotatable about its center, and said second tape guiding means is located at one side of said ring member; and further comprising tension regulator means located adjacent the opposite side of said ring member and including a tension regulating element movable from an inactive position adjacent said wound supply of tape to an oper-ative position spaced apart from said wound supply and at which said tension regulating element engages a run of the tape withdrawn from the wound supply for maintaining a predetermined value of tension therein, and interlock means for moving said tension regulating element from said inactive position to said operative position in synchronism with movement of said second tape guiding means from said first position to said second position.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13; in which said second tape guiding means includes a second support member having a tape guide element thereon and being movable in said predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said ring member for movement of said tape guide element from said first position to said second position, and said interlock means is actuable by said second support member in moving to said second position thereof for moving said tension regulating element at least a major portion of the distance from said inactive position to said operative position.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14;
further comprising drive means for said ring member and said second support member for moving the latter from said first position to said second position during an initial portion of the rotation of said ring member required to complete said wrapping of a portion of the withdrawn tape about the drum, and means included in said drive means and acting on said interlock means during the completion of said wrapping for moving said tension regulating element the remainder of said distance to said operative position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14; in which said wound supply of tape is constituted by a cassette having supply and take-up reels therein, and said means for holding the wound supply includes supply and take-up reel shafts engaged by said supply and take-up reels of the cassette; and in which said interlock means includes yieldable transmission means so that said tension regulating element in said operative position can deflect in response to increased tension in said run of the tape engaged thereby; and said tension regulator means further includes brake means applied to said supply reel shaft for resisting turning of the latter in response to movement of said tension regulating element to said operative positions, and means for reducing the resistance to turning of said supply reel shaft in response to deflection of said tension regulating element by said increased tension in the tape run engaged thereby.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said support member includes a circular ring member rotatable about its center, and said second tape guiding means is located adjacent one side of said ring member;
and further comprising a rotary capstan located adjacent said ring member at the opposite side thereof, a pinch roller, means mounting said pinch roller on said ring member so as to be adjacent said capstan with the tape therebetween when said first tape guiding means completes said wrapping of the tape about the tape guide drum and being movable relative to said ring member toward and away from said capstan, and pinch roller pressing means operative to press said pinch roller against said capstan.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17; in which said pinch roller pressing means includes a shaft fixedly mounted adjacent said opposite side of the ring member, a pressing member pivoted on said shaft and being engagable with the mounting means for the pinch roller so as to press the latter against said capstan, an intermediate member also pivoted on said shaft, spring means connecting said pressing and intermediate members, and electromagnetic means connected with said intermediate member and being operative, when energized, to pivot said intermediate member and, through said spring means, said pressing member in the direction to engage the latter against said mounting means for the pinch roller.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18; in which said spring means acts on said pressing and inter-mediate members on a line of force spaced from said shaft, and said pressing and intermediate members have inter-engagable portions aligned with said line of force for limiting relative pivoting of said pressing and intermediate members by said spring means.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19; in which said shaft is securely supported at its upper and lower ends, said pressing member has upper and lower active portions, and said mounting means for the pinch roller includes a pinch roller support lever pivoted at one end on said ring member and carrying an upstanding shaft adjacent the opposite end of said support lever and on which said pinch roller is rotatable, and a shoe secured on the upper end portion of said shaft on which the pinch roller is rotatable, said shoe and an edge of said pinch roller support lever being engagable by said upper and lower active portions, respectively, of the pressing member when said electromagnetic means are energized.